Cocktail time at Auckland airport

Bacardi is fuelling consumer interest in its premium vodka brand 42 BELOW with a high-profile promotion running at Auckland airport, New Zealand, in partnership with top travel retailer DFS until the end of July. 

42 BELOW vodka at Auckland airport

A range of gwps have been designed to spark engagement among travellers at New Zealand’s busiest airport, including a branded Mix It Bar where expert mixologists are serving the brand's signature Falling Water cocktail - dubbed "a cool, refreshing long drink of 42 BELOW FEIJOA which provides a flavour of green apple meeting guava and lime". 

The three-month promotion is seeking to engage with travellers and share the story of the dynamic brand, which offers a range of flavours. These include 42 BELOW PASSION, featuring hints of Turkish delight, rose petals and passion fruit, and 42 BELOW HONEY, made with Manuka honey, exclusive to New Zealand from the native Manuka bush.

Cameron Beggs, national account manager at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: “The 42 BELOW brand has a powerful reputation as a truly iconic New Zealand brand, renowned for its quality, purity and flavour.  Working closely with DFS, we are tapping into the local passion for 42 BELOW. In particular, the unique freshness and flavour of New Zealand provided by the Falling Water cocktail provides the ideal way to engage with travellers and share the story of this dynamic brand.”

42 BELOW is renowned for its innovative, bold and irreverent style, earning a strong reputation for authentic New Zealand quality and taste, reflected in numerous prestigious international awards, including a series of gold medals at the World Selection of Spirits and Liqueurs, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the International Wines & Spirits competition in the UK.

42 BELOW, named for the latitude at which it is produced, is also the percentage of alcohol by volume of the vodka, and it is the world’s southernmost vodka. It is crafted and distilled in New Zealand, a location renowned for its air and water purity. The company uses a “high-saturation” distillation process, with the vodka distilled four times and filtered through 35 separate filters.

The Auckland airport promotion is part of a global shopper engagement initiative Bacardi is running with DFS. Cocktails of the World features at key airport locations in Los Angeles, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Singapore and Auckland. Travellers can try a range of cocktails from the Bacardi portfolio and in each location, there is additional amplification for one key cocktail synonymous with the location.

Bric's continues global growth

Bric’s has opened three new stores in three countries as the 62-year-old Italian leather goods brand continues to expand globally. The new doors are positioned in prestigious, high-end locations that offer global exposure to the brand.

The stores are located at the Beverly Center mall in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles; Milan Malpensa airport, in the international concourse for Middle Eastern and Asian departures; and a second location in Dubai at the luxury retail mecca, Dubai Festival City Mall.

The new Bric's store at Milan Malpensa airport

Bric’s describes Los Angeles and Milan as “two destinations where the brand is growing”.

Visit www.brics.it

Grey Goose VX's exceptional launch

Bacardi has unveiled a new ultra-premium Grey Goose product that combines vodka and Cognac, exclusively for the travel retail channel.

Grey Goose VX (40%abv), a sipping vodka, is described as a celebration of French craftsmanship and innovation. The VX in the name stands for ‘vodka exceptionelle’, reflecting how the product is crafted by combining super-premium Grey Goose vodka with Cognac created from Grande Champagne cru grapes. (Grey Goose is based in Cognac at an impressive hi-tech facility.)

Grey Goose VX is presented in a Cognac style glass decanter

Francois Thibault, the creator of Grey Goose vodka, used his experience as a Cognac Maitre de Chai (cellar master) and his passion for innovation to create the new spirit. He said: “In creating Grey Goose VX, I wanted to capture the aromatic notes of a precious Cognac, bringing its delicate essence of orchard fruits, plum, apricot and the mild flavours of wild honey to the remarkable character of Grey Goose vodka.”

Grey Goose VX is presented in a decanter made from extra flint glass - a glass known for its fine quality. The bottle shape and detailing take inspiration from prestigious French decanters, such as the rounded shoulders and pronounced heavy-set stopper, while still retaining contemporary design cues from the original Grey Goose bottle. According to Bacardi, the wave design on the front of the decanter serves as a metaphor for flight, natural geometric design and optimism, and together with its frosted appearance, - achieved through sandblasted glass - further reinforces the handcrafted, artisanal nature of Grey Goose VX.

Mike Birch, managing director of Bacardi Global Travel Retail, believes the new product is “a significant step change for the vodka/white spirits category” that seeks to “enhance and expand the vodka experience for luxury spirits connoisseurs across white and dark categories”.

 

He continued: “The vodka category in global travel retail hugely under-indexes (c.10%) versus domestic markets average (18% white spirits) and there is room for shopper trade up versus other spirits categories. Innovation has tended to rely on flavours and, whilst we have several great flavours with Grey Goose, we wanted to create something truly disruptive in this category. We are incredibly excited with the result and initial reaction from retail customers is superb."

Birch added: “Francois Thibault’s expertise as Maitre de Chai, working and living in the Cognac region, combined with his pursuit for new and exciting experiences, opens a radical avenue of opportunity and a new drinking occasion for vodka type products.”

Grey Goose VX will be released in strictly limited allocations to selected premium airport locations.

Tom Spaven, marketing manager, premium white spirits at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said of the new line’s luxury appeal: “Grey Goose VX is a significant launch that brings a new and credible level of luxury to the vodka category, injecting a vital burst of innovation and originality. The powerful and convincing link between Grey Goose VX to the Cognac category creates unique opportunities to engage the traveller with the world’s best spirits experiences. The sophisticated, affluent passenger profiles that we are targeting are seeking new, convincing options for their at-home drinking occasions and Grey Goose VX makes travel retail an essential destination for this vital audience.”

The product’s rich, subtle taste conveys a harmonious balance of white fruit blossom, honeysuckle and violet with hints of apricot and a long, lingering finish. Grey Goose VX can be enjoyed on the rocks, in a brandy balloon glass.

Grey Goose VX will be available at selected premium airports around the world, launching globally first at Paris Charles de Gaulle with LS travel retail in early July. The one-litre decanter is presented in a luxury gift box, retailing at £89.

Davidoff announces revamped New York flagship

New York will welcome a new Davidoff flagship store in late 2014, when the newly unveiled Davidoff of Geneva 6th Avenue location will open. For 50 years, the location has been home to the company’s De La Concha shop, which will be remodelled to the brand’s new global store concept “Davidoff of Geneva – since 1911”. 

How the Davidoff flagship store on New York's 6th Avenue will look

The new flagship store will retain core elements of the traditional De La Concha charm, in particular its internationally recognised pipe and pipe tobacco offering and expertise. The first of its kind in the US, the new 6th Avenue location cements Davidoff’s commitment to New York City.

Jim Young, president of Davidoff of Geneva North America, said: “We are very excited to add a new Davidoff flagship store in such a vibrant part of New York City, and particularly now that we have developed our new and inviting retail concept that includes a luxurious lounge to enjoy cigars, a state-of-the-art humidor to make your cigar selection, and a retail space where our shoppers can browse and select from the finest accessories available worldwide.”

In other retail news, Davidoff has given its two Brussels flagship stores in the Sablon and at Stéphanie a fresh look and has opened a new cigar room in the Belgian city’s Steigenberger hotel. The firm has joined forces with hotel manager Blanche van Berckel to create a smoking room which is able to accommodate 30 people at any time of the day or night.

Christopher Ward unveils accessories collection

UK watchmaker Christopher Ward has launched its first luxury leather accessories range, available exclusively from the Christopher Ward website. Named after the Leicestershire town in which the products are crafted, The Mowbray Collection is designed to complement Christopher Ward’s Swiss-made timepieces.

Christopher Ward Mowbray document case

Chris Ward, co-founder of Christopher Ward (London), explained the inspiration for the collection: “This year we celebrate our 10-year anniversary and The Mowbray Collection, like our watches, gives men our unique blend of quality and tremendous value expressed in the quintessentially English style that is at the heart of our watch collections. As with our watches, we wanted to create accessories that not only look fantastic but that men would love to hold and really want to use and cherish.”

Christopher Ward Mowbray iPad case

The Mowbray Collection comprises iPad cases, wallets, document folders and small leather goods, offered in two classic colours – Cognac and black. Highlights include iPad cases; wallets with a fabric-lined interior notes section; document cases; and small accessories, including card holders and key rings.

Christopher Ward Mowbray wallet

Christopher Ward appointed renowned designer Monica Larkin, who has created products for Burberry and Mulberry, to create the brand’s accessories. She said: “As it’s the first collection, the majority of my inspiration came from the Christopher Ward brand itself. I wanted the range to express that distinctive, classic Englishness and the team at Christopher Ward and I were passionate about ensuring each accessory is exquisitely made, just like the watches. Each piece is a mix of high functioning luxury: an object you can use every day and that will improve with age.”

The range is made from fine Italian leather, specially treated using a boarded technique to create a vintage feel that softens and darkens over time and improves with age. It also ensures that each skin is different. Traditional English hand-painted edging and corners, strengthened with hand-applied whip stitches – a highly skilled technique – emphasise the English heritage of the collection.

Visit www.christopherward.co.uk

MCM welcomes boy band to new store

A huge crowd of more than 10,000 fans flocked to MCM’s new MCM SPACE flagship store in Seoul, South Korea, to celebrate Brazil’s World Cup with the launch of the brand’s München Cute Monsters Limited Edition collection. On June 26, the space-themed store welcomed hugely popular K-pop boy band Exo (think One Direction, only cuter!) who delighted the fans as they posed for photographs outside the four-storey flagship. Inside the store, Exo posed for Twitter’s Vine 360 head-to-toe videos, which were immediately ranked number 1 in Korea with over 50,000 shares.

Thousands flock to the new MCM SPACE store in Seoul

At the party, the 500 VIP guests, media and press – who included Korea’s top models, actors, singers and bloggers – had fun taking pictures of themselves in the photo booth, eating Cute Monsters cupcakes, and playing table soccer. They also admired the inter-galactic MCM SPACE shuttle, which takes centre stage inside the massive store. And in a world premiere, MCM’s stunning Autumn/Winter 2014 Digital Soldier collection was on display for the first time, alongside the Backpack Wall, highlighting many of the new, must-have designs.

Hugely popular boy band Exo inside the MCM store

During the evening, a group of Samba dancers entertained the party-goers with typical Brazilian flair while the guests enjoyed World Cup-themed Churrasco food and other Brazilian specialities. Later on, a DJ got the party moving with the latest top tunes on the roof terrace, as the glamorous glitterati chilled out in the lounge area. After the event, an enormous crowd of around 3,000 people visited the store until midnight struck. The amazingly successful event generated around 1,000 online and social media reports.

The Exo boys pose beside the MCM Backpack Wall

The VIP guest list included:

Exo - Korean-Chinese K-pop boy band. Check out their Vine 360 head-to-toe videos on Twitter.

Dancing 9 - dance group from the South Korean dance reality TV show.

Sunmi - South Korean Idol singer with the girl group Wonder Girls.

Bit-na Wang - South Korean actress

Kangjoon-Seo - South Korean actor

Sang-ho Kim - South Korean actor

Haena Song - South Korean model

Jung-sun Jin - South Korean model

Seul Ki Park - South Korean model

Ho-jung Lee - South Korean figure skater and model

Hyun Jeong Ji - South Korean model

A mover and shaker in the watch world

“The most important development for a British watch brand for 50 years.”

That was the bold message sent out by Mike France, CEO of Christopher Ward, speaking at the launch of the English watch brand’s first in-house movement. It was a dual celebration, because the Swiss-made brand had also reached its milestone 10^th anniversary. Oh, actually, it was a triple celebration, as the ambitious France revealed that Christopher Ward had just merged with its long-standing supplier Synergies Horlogères.

Sitting alongside the company’s co-founders Chris Ward and Peter Ellis at the launch party, held in London’s very English Charlotte Street Hotel, France could barely contain his excitement as he told the media guests: “This [the introduction of our first in-house movement] will be a huge step forward for us. Together with the Synergies Horlogères merger, we now have the perfect platform to make Christopher Ward’s second decade even more innovative and exciting than the first.”

Having launched Calibre SH21 – variously described by the team as “powerful” and “tractor-like” - future product developments will include a chronograph (as soon as their young watchmaker Johannes Jahnke can produce it, no pressure there then) and a power reserve indicator model.

Interestingly, France did not rule out supplying the new in-house movement to other companies, but acknowledged that “the Christopher Ward brand comes first”.

Calibre SH21, a certified chronometer, is housed in the new C9 Harrison 5 Day Automatic model, which forms part of the brand’s premium collection. Sported proudly on the wrists of the co-founders at the launch party on July 2, the new watch looks simple and elegant, with a clear-to-read face, and “not over-fussy”, according to France. The dress watch, with an alligator strap, retails at £1,500. France calls it "amazing value" for a watch featuring a five-day power reserve.

Take a look at the new Calibre SH21 and the C9 Harrison model below:

Calibre SH21, the first in-house movement from Christopher Ward

The C9 Harrison 5 Day Automatic watch incorporating the new movement

Davidoff brand hails most successful year ever

In his annual media address, Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard gave a fascinating insight into the world’s leading manufacturer of cigars. Significantly, he said that despite further legal constraints on tobacco consumption in Europe and Russia and the anti-corruption measures in China, which affect the sale of luxury goods, the company expects the turnover in its core business will continue to grow and profits will continue to improve in the current fiscal year. The buoyant travel-retail business will play a part in this growth.

Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard

Here’s what he said (edited version):

“In the fiscal year 2013, Oettinger Davidoff AG, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium cigars, has consolidated its global market position and, despite the market environment being difficult at times, has successfully gained in market share again. The group’s turnover fell by 2% to CHF1.206bn as a result of divestment in the non-core business.

“In contrast, almost 40m own-brand cigars were produced for the first time in the history of Oettinger Davidoff, an increase of 24% compared to the previous year. This was supported by the extraordinarily successful launch of the Davidoff Nicaragua, a premium cigar made of Nicaraguan tobaccos.

“Despite further legal constraints on tobacco consumption in Europe and Russia and the state anti-corruption measures in China, which have an effect on the sale of luxury goods, Oettinger Davidoff AG anticipates that the turnover in its core business will continue to grow and profits will continue to improve in the current fiscal year 2014. This is particularly possible in light of growing demand in Asia, the US, in the travel-retail and duty-free sector, further anticipated market share gains in Europe and because of new products that suit the tastes of cigar enthusiasts worldwide. The most successful fiscal year in the history of the Davidoff brand.

The most successful year in the history of Davidoff

“The strategic focus on our core business in cigars, which was introduced in 2012, can already be seen to have had an effect in the last fiscal year, particularly in the growth of the Davidoff brand sales figures in 2013. This last year has therefore been the most successful year in the history of Davidoff, with a 14% increase in our global sales of the Davidoff brand in the second half of the year.

“With a 4.6% growth in turnover, Oettinger Davidoff AG achieved an outstanding result in all of the brands that it distributes, despite the fact that the European market declined by 5%. In the US, too, sales increased by 6.2% in a total market that is experiencing modest growth. As a result, Oettinger Davidoff AG has gained in market share in both Europe and in the US, the two largest and most important markets.

“In contrast, growth in Asia was put under considerable strain in China, the largest sales market in Asia, with the introduction of restrictive state regulations on luxury products.

“Oettinger Davidoff AG registered an impressive growth in its premium Davidoff brand, with 18% growth in the US and 11%-plus growth in Europe, as well as 7%-plus in the travel-retail and duty-free market, which is also of global strategic importance. Duty-free shops also represent an attractive off-shore market for over 100m Chinese tourists and Oettinger Davidoff AG profited from this with its numerous and increasing number of duty-free shops.

Changing consumption habits in Europe and record results in the US

“Increasing international legal restrictions in almost all markets have an effect on market behaviour. For example, the seasonal demand in consumption has changed, primarily in Europe. People are smoking more in summer than they used to. A clear trend towards shorter cigars has also become evident. Finally, it is apparent that in the 28 to 40 age group, a premium cigar is increasingly being seen as an indulgent treat just as much as a good glass of wine or good food.

“The Davidoff Nicaragua line, launched in this past year, has grown to be a unique success story in the recent history of the company. It immediately met the taste of a passionate cigar community across the continent. This is the most successful product launch since the redirection of the company after it withdrew from Cuba in 1989. At times, demand outstripped budgeted production by almost double, which caused temporary supply bottlenecks. This extraordinary success and the relaunch of the Camacho cigar, which has a long tradition in the US, has contributed to Oettinger Davidoff experiencing the most successful year in its 25-year history in North America.

“In the past year the company has consolidated its wholesale business in Switzerland into one company, established its own branches in Austria and Russia in the tobacco sector, initiated the takeover of its former trading partner in Spain and expanded sales and distribution in Central Asia and Africa.

“Within the framework of the retail concept announced the year before last, shops in Tokyo and Seoul and at airports in Hong Kong, Taipei and JFK in New York, among others, were adapted to the new design and brand image. A number of product and marketing initiatives were also eventually reflected in the final quarter of 2013 in turnover that experienced considerable growth, and the Davidoff brand achieved gains in market share in a declining total market.

Cultural initiatives

“Finally, with a comprehensive revision of its corporate image and the dynamic development of its partnership with Art Basel, Oettinger Davidoff has finally honed its profile as a globally active, socially responsible company. In addition to collaboration at trade fairs in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong, the partnership with Art Basel involves a global cultural project called the Davidoff Art Initiative. The Davidoff Art Initiative supports contemporary art and artists in the Caribbean, strengthens art institutions in the Dominican Republic, shares knowledge and expertise about contemporary art, and fosters cultural exchange between the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

“At the centre of the Davidoff Art Initiative is Oettinger Davidoff AG’s ambition to give something back to the cultural community of the Dominican Republic, which is home to a large proportion of production and many of the company’s employees, by promoting and focusing on the art and culture of the Caribbean and building on the company’s longstanding commitment to arts, crafts, community and quality. The four global programme areas of the Davidoff Art Initiative are: Davidoff Art Residency, Davidoff Art Dialogues, Davidoff Art Grants and Davidoff Art Editions. Recently, the foundation was laid for the Davidoff Art Residency at the Dominican Altos de Chavón School of Design in La Romana. Every year from 2015 onwards, the residency will invite five international artists to spend three months at the School of Design.

Ambitious outlook

“I aim to continue increasing the turnover of the core business at Oettinger Davidoff AG in the current year. With a strong, two-figure percentage growth, the Davidoff brand laid the foundation for a successful fiscal year 2014 in the first five months. In order to promote the planned growth, substantial investments will be made both this year and next year in launching new brands and relaunching existing brands with high growth potential and in developing the existing product range.

“The introduction of the Camacho cigar, having already been very successful in the US, to Europe is symbolic of this investment, as is the launch of the first Davidoff vintage cigar made in 2002, the most expensive cigar produced by Davidoff to date. New Davidoff flagship stores will be opened in Frankfurt, New York and Kuala Lumpur in 2014, a separate company will be established in Spain, and in Dubai a dedicated office will be put into service in recognition of the growing significance of this

region. In addition, over 200 Davidoff shops-in-shops will have been opened around the world by the end of this year. The global sales network of Oettinger Davidoff will experience substantial expansion as a result.

“The new production record also reflects Oettinger Davidoff’s confidence in the potential of the global market for premium Davidoff cigars.”